DeLoach sails through preliminaries

Janay DeLoach was one-and-done Friday at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.

DeLoach, an Eielson graduate who still owns the Alaska state record in the long jump, needed only one jump Friday to become the top qualifier in preliminary competition at Hayward Field.

DeLoach sailed 23 feet, 5.5 feet on her first and only jump of the day. The wind-aided effort put her seven inches ahead of the No. 2 qualifier.

The top 12 women will advance to Sunday's finals, with the top three finishers earning trips to the London Olympics. DeLoach, the IAAF's reigning world indoor champion, is a favorite to make the team.

DeLoach set the Alaska girls long jump record in 2003 with a leap of 19-5 and starred in college for Colorado State. A resident of Fort Collins, Colo., she was one of three athletes with Alaska connections who competed Friday in Olympic trials competition.

Soldotna's Paige Blackburn, who recently wrapped up her track career at the Air Force Academy, placed 22nd among 24 women competing in the javelin preliminaries in Eugene.

Her best effort -- 151 feet, 9 inches -- came on her third and final throw. The top qualifier, Kara Patterson, set a Trials record with a throw of 198-5.

Blackburn, 22, came into the meet following a standout senior season during which she won the Mountain West javelin title and set an Academy record in the hammer throw.

At the Canadian track and field trials in Calgary, Alberta, UAA javelin thrower Cody Parker placed eighth in the 13-man finals, out of the running for an Olympic berth. Curtis Moss won with a throw of 255-4.

Parker's best throw was 203-10, well off his personal best of 241-1. Last month, while competing with the Seawolves at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships, he won the javelin with a conference record throw of 232-5, a feat that earned him the GNAC male freshman of the year award.